We Played a ‘Feminine or Masculine’ Word Game With Teens & Got a Fascinating Glimpse Into Gen Z’s View of Gender Norms 

Powerful. Problematic. Caring. Logical. Would you assign these words to a specific gender, and if so, which one? That’s what SheKnows asked our Teen Council — and their answers provided a fascinating glimpse into the complex interplay between traditional gender roles and Gen Z’s self-perception.

Our society traditionally links certain traits with being masculine or feminine, which has probably led to most of us — including these teens — internalizing specific gender roles. But Gen Z’ers seem to be breaking away from these norms. They often have qualities or express themselves in ways that challenge the usual ideas of gender, maybe even subconsciously; our 14-year-old panelist Joan, for example, expressed mild surprise when it was pointed out that the terms he chose to describe himself — “caring,” “cooperative,” and “logical” — were unanimously considered to be feminine.

Whether they consciously realize it or not, this indicates a growing awareness of gender fluidity and a desire to challenge stereotypes. Defying traditional norms is actually something Gen Z is known for; data has shown that when it comes to gender, this generation is more acutely aware (and more accepting) of a less black-and-white view. In a survey of over 10,000 people by Pew Research examining different generational views on political and social issues, most Americans said they know people who don’t identify strictly as male or female. Additionally, at least 60 percent are familiar with terms like “non-binary” and “gender fluid.” Gen Z stands out with the highest awareness: almost three-quarters of Gen Z respondents said they’ve heard of non-binary pronouns, compared to just 65 percent of millennials and 54 percent of Baby Boomers.

Maybe the shift in attitude is due in part to the new landscape of media and pop culture, which play a significant role in shaping gender stereotypes. Unlike previous generations who primarily encountered gender as a binary concept through more “traditional” media and role models, today’s youth have unprecedented access to information about diverse gender identities and expressions. Gen Z, in particular, has been exposed to a wider range of gender concepts and terminology through online communities, sparking new conversations and perspectives.

The fact that Gen Z teens still largely associate certain attributes with traditional gender roles highlights just how deeply these stereotypes are ingrained in our society, and how far we have to go in dismantling them. Our panel voted the words “violent,” “strong,” and “toxic” as masculine, while “emotional,” “caring,” and “logical” all rated as feminine; pretty traditional perceptions that continue to shape how we view the world, and ourselves. There was one surprise outlier that our team found interesting from a generational standpoint: the teens overwhelmingly voted that “logical” was a feminine word, but also “emotional” — two terms that have traditionally been viewed as mutually exclusive (and used as the basis for a very tired argument about why a woman wouldn’t make a good president).

However, while Gen Z thinks about personal qualities in traditional ways, they tend to describe themselves in new ways that are less defined by gender norms, which says a lot about their openness to doing things differently. Where defining things as either “masculine” or “feminine” can restrict personal expression, viewing gender as a spectrum opens up space for a wider range of experiences and identities, and Gen Z is embracing that in a way no generation has before.